Garbage-crematory.



O. M. SHANNON.

GARBAGE GRBMATORY.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111.21, 1910.

981,228. 1 Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

s{Hlmllllllllllmnl I from-.- A hinged hopper-like door 4 similar UNTTED sTATiis PATENT onirica. l

. OSCAR'M. SHANNGN, 0F NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

GABBAGE-CREMATORY.

15 all whom-it my concern:

Be it known that I, OsoAnM. SHANNON, a citizen of the'United States, residing at New Rochelle, inthe county of. Westchester and lState of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements .in Garbage-Crematories, of which the following is a full, `clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to crematories or furnaces adapted to burn or dispose of refuse of various sorts.

The matter herein presented constitutes a disclosure of improvements in apparatus of this description, and more particularly relates to im rovei'nents in Crematories of the type described in my application, SerialNo. 493,113, filed April 80, 1909, whereby increased efficiency of such devices may be obtained, accelerating the destruction of the waste or refuse material to be disposed of, and thereby enabling the apparatus to incinerate a considerably larger amount of material in any given period of time. As stated in in 'companion application, litter from office uildings and hospitals, scraps and garba e from private dwellings', and the useless ru bish and shavings and general refuse of manufacturing processes is ordinaril carted away; but as most of it is combustible, a considerable economic saving results from burning it where it originated; thereby avoiding the troubleof storing it up for subsequent removal, the expenseof such removal, and eliminating unsanit-ary conditions.

Referring now -to the drawings which form a part hereof, and in which like charl acters designate like parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a' vertical secforms. the furnace body, and a base or ashcasing 3 uppn which shell 2 is supported;

Being, it may e here noted removable there- Specification'of Letters Patent. Application filed Iaioh 21, 1910. Serial No. 550,655.

tional view of a garbage crematory, embodylforegoing will be necessar to that used in my earlier form of'device is capable of being lclosed tightly in normal use; but is further adaptedto be drawn open to form a sort of` receiving chute for the garbage and other material.

The furnace has a central substantially annular consumption chamber, in which the combustion of the garbage takes place. This consumption chamber. communicates with the chimney iue 6, and has a `fixedgrate 7 of thiiiheatv conductin metal, upon which is superposed a rotatable grate 8 of some- Y'what similar construction, the movable or rotatable element being supported by ,the fixed member or grate; movable grate 8 being also formed of thin heat conductin metah The rotatable member is provid with a series of apertures9 concentrically disposed around a common center, namely, the axis of the grate, and these apertures corresponding apertures 10 in the fixed grate. It will be observed that in this form of my invention the ates are preferably circular instead of su stantially square as shown in my companion application referred to. so that the apertures 9 and 10 are each respectively closed by the grated portionsof the opposite grate, and when in this posi- Patenten Jan. io, 1911.

4are adapted to be alined vwith a series of The movable member 8 may be rotated tion the `material to be ,incinerated rests upon the movable grate 8 and the portions of grate 7 ex osed through the apertures 9 of the movab e member. It is evident that a natural up-draft is created through the openings 11 and'glQ of the movable member, and corresponding a ertures 13 and 14 of the fixed grate. As s own, I prefer to form alternate apertures of greater length-'than those intermediately disposed; the' ldraft,l

passing upward through the burning inass of garbage and thence out through the chimney flue.

In burning paper waste or other very combustible litter, no other provision than the Ordinary arbage, however, .being muc less combustible than paper Waste can not be consumed in this simple way and other means mustbe aorded for promoting the combustion. Particularly is this the caseI with material tolbe `consumed which comprises wet rags, vegetable refuse, and dirt anddust of.' sweepings. I have indicated in my conil anion application, a means wherebyfthis where the mass of matter to be consumed is particularlyv obdurate, as.` when the vpercentage thereof is in large part composed ofdamp or soggy material, much time `is consumed and a considerable waste ofthe combustible employed, such for example as gas,v is thereby necessitated. This visdue largely to 4thefact that Ithe mass of material disposed above the grate is .ingreat measure protected from the heat to which it is subjected by reason of its com aratively solid structure, the 'lowermost'sur' ace of the mass being exposed to heat or flame; but such surface, being moist, efectually shielding the superposedv portions of the mass fora considerable time from "the flame. I have therefore provided means for enabling the flame to penetrate up directly into the body ofthe mass to be destroyed, which mavl be of considerable depth.

Referring more particularly to the con- 4 struction herein set forth, which obviously forms but one embodiment vof my invention, a burner 9, preferably a gas burner, 1s provided beneath the grate, against which grate the burner flame is directed. I prefer to form this burner integral with the fixed grate T, as shown in Fig. l; but it is not arranged directly beneath the slots in the grate aforesaid, being locatcdout of vertical alineviii ment with the grate eitheless being cause to pass across the -entire under surface of the grate and upwardly throughv the openings therein'l if these are not -plugged up by the garbage. In general the means employed to this end embody the general principles employed in my previous invention, namely, the provision of a special flue pipe 10 exclusively for the burner flame. This insures a flow of the hot fiame or gases entirely across the lower exposed portions of the grate, just as it does in my other form of device. In traversing this under side of the grate, the burner flame is of course sucked up through the grate openings, if these are not clogged. These flames sucked through the openings l1, 12, '13 and 14, of the grate in this way, then thread themselves'upward through the interstices of the garbage mass, ignitin those portions which' are freely combustib e, and drying, oxidizing and incinerating the less combustible portions.V The heat from the burner -iiame is increasingly augmented by the heat from the garbage masses, which are `"sii-rst dried and partly carbonized, thereupon gtniting and furnishing an intense heat from ir" own combustion. If'in theprogress of Goth.. tion the garbagemass settles down on itliefgrate and clogs up the openingsthereof, the burner gases will still have a free path of escape through the ihie'lOA and the chamber 15, which I will now describe, until the combined heat of the burner` and the oomtherefore from the said, mass.

gpenings; the fla-me nev-y rbage has restored bustion of the glowing-ga e lower grate opensubstantially at the center of the fixed grate. y This cylindrical grate element is formed by` a number of vertical bars 19 which are united at their upper and lower extremities respectively b dome-shaped7 cap 22is positioned in engagement wit rim 20; and this cap` is in like manner provided with a series of'radially disposed slots 23. It may be here observed that all of the slots in the several parts aforesaid are provided with upstanding or outstanding flanges around the respective edges thereof in the manner shown in the drawings, and in correspondence with the slot formation disclosed in my application previously filed. The purpose of these ridges or iianges is to forma series 'of gutters around the respective slots through which the -water or other iuidv in the mass to be incinerated may escape; draining` it off The entire path of the fiames is hence inwardly from the burner over thelower surfaces of grates 7 and 8, upward adjacent to the inner wall of the cylindrical grate, correspondingly aroundlthe dome 23, and. out through the pipe 10. A relativel enormous grate surface is hence aiorde and the mass to be incinerated whendisposed in the garba e receptacle actually molds itself into a ho low structure, andxthe incinerating ames are'hence adapted to impinge against the lower surface of this mass and through the lateral openings of the cylindrical grate and against the entire interior wall thereof.- By reason of this construction, the soggy mass hereinbefore referred to is directly attacked at its interior as well as upon the bottom thereof and is rapidly dried out and incinerated.

Another feature of importance should here be emphasized, namely, that the rotatability of the upper ate affords means for shakin down clin ers or recalcitrant matter which may .be deposited upon the grate 5 such matter falling down into the ash-pit provided therebelow. In this form of construction I prefer to form the perforated burner tube 91 of s uare transverse section and generally circu ar 'outlines corresponding to the sha e of the furnace or each other at the ends thereof.l At some' annular rims 20 and 21. A.y

iio

point along the len h of each .of these halves or sections an beneath the same is formed an extension 25 into' which a gas pipe 26 delivers, the extension having an air inlet 27; thereby constituting a' Bunsenv lburner. The burner perforations 28 are openings.

located-on the upper inside zone or face of -the burner tube so as to direct the flames radially inward beneath the grate as much las possible. The flue pipel 1 0 `is-connected to thecentral portion of the dome 22 by an elbowfitting 29, pipe lyextending thence Vlaterally out through the wall of the receptacle as at 30, and thence upward as at 31 outside vof said wall and preferably to the ,rear thereof, finally returning again through the upper portion of said wall at 32 to def liver into chimney 6. Pipe 31 may have .a damper therein, if desired. The dis osition of a portion of the pipe outside of the receptacle affords more room upon the inside of the same. Any fire or fuel bed which produces a flame will answer. It will be observed that all grate surfaces present either inclined or vertical faces to the garbage which rests thereagainst. Every point of the entire grate therefore drains outwardly and downwardly toward a common peripheral gutter 33; the flanges formed around each of the grate slots edectually preventing anyfluid streams on the grate surfaces from finding an exit through such The water and drippings from wet garbage are thereby mostly carried to the gutter, where they are readily evaporated by the close proximity of the burners; while any water which happens to pass through the openings in the grate willl fall into the pit below, and not lodge upon and choke the burner. If desired, a drain may be provided for the gutter 33, but it will be found in practice that this not necessary, evaporation taking care of any liquid which collects in the gutter.

I particularly wish to point out a feature in my present construction which const-itutes another' marked improvement over the structure described in my co-pending ap lication, to wit, the disposition' of the wa l 2 Thel ledge portion 36, is disposed directlyy over the gutter 33. Around theperiphery of the movable grate element y8 is an upwardly extending annular flanges 37 the outer surface of which flange almost con` tacts with the inner face of the casingwall. It will hence be seen that vthe gutter 33 is protected from the mass of garbage by casing portion 36 and said flange, and substan.

tially the onlentrances into theperipheral .gutter are a orded by a series 'of apertures flange 37, the material of the said exten- 38 'in flange 37, such apertures permitting' water to A grate member 8; and through the gutters in the upper surface of grate 7.

I have provided this construction since I find that in my previous form of device hereinbefore referred to a portion of the refuse material around the walls of the receptacle largely escapes the action of the flame and incinerates but slowly, by reason of the fact that the flames from the burners do not impinge directly against such portion, but inwardly thereof. By bringing the wall of the casing inward over the gutter and closely adjacent to the outer ends of the slots in the grate members 7 and 8, the flames passing through such portions of the slots will reach the matter disposed thereabove and lying closely adjacent to the cas-l rool down from the surface of ing wall. Hence, no portion of the refuse "8b material can escape the action of the llame. Below the grate 7 there is the usual ash pan 39 to collect the comminuted incinerated products of combustion which escape or are; shaken dbwn through the grate openin s. In ordinary use the combustion will e found so complete as to reduce almost all garbage to this condition. The composition of the flue gases depends on the temperature attained in the furnace, and if this is .reasonably high, as it always is, nothing will escape except steam, air and carbon dioxid, none of which are in the least objectionable in the atmosphere. Of course in time, particles of incinerated material will pass down through `apertures 38 upon 'the grate surfaces into gutter 33, and in order to rid the said gutter of such material. I have providedv a series of extensions 40, which are preferably integrally formed with the movable grate section 8. These projections or extensions are of somewhat peculiar contour, preferablyhaving a ridge 41 radially disposedvoutward from the lower portion of sions tapering then downwardly and somewhat outwardly'tow'ard the bottom of the part to provide warped, propeller-like surfaces upon either side of extension 40. These extensions act as Scrapers, and not. only scrape up the accumulated material from the bottom and sides of the gutter, but also serve to dislodge and push the same over the outer gutter wall, down -into the ashpit. This form of my crematory furnace incinerates garbage most completely without. throwing oil' noxious gases and by reason of the arrangement shown, or some equivalent thereof, the flame or source of heat can never be suppressed. Means are provided for moving the movable grate section and thereby cleaning out the peripheral gutter ceding one, provided a device |which con lstitutes a combined furnace and retort; `the retort being constituted in the sense that the apparatus has a chamberpheated by an exterlor burns; or fire. The grate Vbecomes vred hot in use and the retort action is most ractical. It is also a furnace, since the amev passes up, throu h and into the mass. As in my precedin v evioe, the air supply is heated which ten s to produce a more in tense and thorough combustion than when it is cold.

The particular features of invention whlch I wish to cover in this application are the provision of means for applying a retort act-ion not only to the lower surfacoe off the mass to be incinerated, but up through and into the body of the same; the peculiar construction of furnace which is afforded by a device of this character; the provision of'a movable grate in combination with retort furnaces of the type in question; the provision of means whereby the bulkv of the mass 'of material -to be incinerated may be instantly attacked by the flame; the' provision of means' for sweeping out the fluid-collecting gutter; the provision of such sweeping means in connection with a movable element of the grate; and finally the construction of ashpit-and furnace casings whereby' "the latter may be readily removed from the yproper metallic casing efiiciently withstands the actionof the heat generated in the apparatus,and hence the device may in most cases be used without-such lining.

Referring to Fig. 3, I lhave there-'shown a 'form of furnace in which the substantially vertical elements ofthe grate which affordthe means,l for laterally attacking the mass to -be incinerated, are disposed. not centrally of the grate but to one side thereof to form the wall 16'.'

as it involves some of the principles' underlying my invention, it and like devices should be regarded as coming within 'the purview of certain of the claims hereunto appended. y

It will be understood that in the claims, the terms horizontally, vertically and the like, areto be considered. suiiiciently broad to cover deviations from the horizontal or vertical which would not materially affect the operation of the parts.

l This form of structure is not so j 5. well adapted foi` the purpose in question, but

- said What I claim, is: i j 1. In agarbage crematory, a chamber adapted to receive garbage, a grate at the bottom of said chamber having a gutter therearound for liquid matter, means for .normally preventing said gutter from bein 'filled b lthe matter to beincinerated, an

means isposed adjacent said gutter for di-I recting jets of flame across the surface of said grate. y

2. In a garbage crematory, a chamber adapted to receive" garbage, a grate comprising elements disposed at the bottom of lsaid chamber, and grate elements extending up into the interior thereof, a chimney flue communicating with said chamber, a supplemental liue extendingwiip beyond the zone of incineration and connecting the chimney flue withthe space below the grate, and means for causing jets of flame to impinge against theentire surface of the bottom of the grate, and unobstructedly against the upwardly disposed elements of said grate.

3. In a garbage crematory, a chamber adapted to receive garbage, a grate extending abruptly upwardly into the interior of said chamber, a chimnev flue communicating with said chamber, an extended supplemental ue connecting the chimney iue with the space inside of sald grate, and means for producing flames and for causing such flames to impinge against said grate, the course of said flames .up into the s ace inside of said grate being unobstructe y 4. In a garbage crematory, a chamber adapted to receive garbage, a grate comprising elements disposed at thebottom of said chamber, and rate elements extendin abruptly upward y into the interior thereo a chimney iue communicatin with said chamber, a su plemental flue irectly connecting `the chimney flue with the space below the grate, and means for producing iamesand for causing ames to impinge againstthe entire extent of said grate.

5.A A refuse incinerator comprising a.,

burner chamber and an incinerator chamburner chamber and an incinerator cham r a grate arranged between said chambers, an having an annular gutter around its .periphery located'in an enlarged portion of the combustion chamber out of-alinement with the main yportion ofthe incinerator wall, tter being adapted to receive liquids shed rom the grate, and an annular burner beneath said gutter.

7. In a garbage crematory, a chamber adapted to receive garbage, a flue leading therefrom a grate having substantially verticalv faces located in the interior of said chamber, said grate further comprising obliquely disposed grate elements leading toward the vertical faces of said grate, a flue communicating withthe space adjacent said vertical faces, a burner having jets impinging against the grate at points remote from said flue, whereby the fla-me and products of combustion traverse't-he face of said grate substantially in direct. contact therewith. l

8. In a garbage; crematory, a chamber adapted to receive/garbage, a flue leading therefrom, a grate having upwardly flanged pcrforations located at the bottom ofv said chamber, a second grate having corresponding perforations therein, one yof said grates being movablewith respect to the other, a flue :communicating with the space below said grates, and a burner having jets impinging a ainst said grates at points remote from saic flue, whereby the flames and products of combustion traverse the faces of said grates in substantially direct contact therewith.

9. A refuse incinerator comprising a burner chamber and an incinerat'or chamber, a grate arranged between said chambers, said grate having both lateral and upri ht portions, in combination with a `flue an a burner, the flue connecting with the top of the upright portion of the grate and the burner being located beneath and at the outer periphery of the lateral portion of the grate.

l0. In a refuse incinerator, a casing, a grate dividing the casing into an incineratiug and a burner chamber, said grate having an annular lateral portion'extending to the casing wall and also having a contiguous upright axial portion projecting" into the `formed by a combustion chamber, a flue leading from the combustion chamber, a second flue leading from the top of the axial portion of the grate,` and a burnerlocated in the burner chamber at the periphery of the lateral portion of the grate.

11. In a garbage crematory, an incinerating chamber having the bottom thereoi ate, said grate comprising grate portions isposed at the bottom of said chamber and further comprising grate portions supported by said bottom portions and extending up substantially vertically there,- from, an exit flue communicating with the space adjacent the vertical portions, vand means for causing jets of llame to impinge against the grate at points remote from the exit flue, whereby the flames of combustion travel across the under surface of said grate and upwardly adjacent the vertical portions thereof in direct contact therewith.

l2. In a. refuse incinera-tor, a casing, a grate dividing the casing into' an incinerating and a burner chamber, said grate having inclined laterally extending elements constituting a lateral section, and contiguous substantially Vvertical elements, the latter forming an uprightY cage extending into the incinerating chamber, a lue leading from the combustion chamber, and a burner lo-y cated in the burner chamber adjacent the periphery of the laterally extending grate section, flames from the burnerV passing upward over the inclined section and into the ca e substantially in direct contact with the wal s thereof.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

osoAR M. sHANNoN. 

